Rwanda and Tanzania have started talks aimed at ending the theft of Rwandan consignments at the Dar es Salaam port.

The talks between trade ministers from the two governments were prompted after two mineral consignments meant for export from Rwanda were stolen at the Dar es Salaam port.

Mineral exporters from Rwanda claim the thieves have not been charged.

Frabrice Kayihura, head of Africa Mineral Services said insuring export minerals through the port of Dar es Salaam has become expensive.

Mineral Africa Service is the latest Rwandan firm to lose a container valued at Rwf542 million. Sources said the minerals were offloaded from the container and replaced with cement.

READ: Another Rwandan minerals container stolen at Dar port

Valentine Rugwabiza, Rwanda minister for East African Community, said trade ministers from both countries are in talks to see how they can end the thefts and improve security at the Dar es Salaam Port.

Rwanda imports 60 per cent of its goods through the Dar es Salaam port but some of the traders say they could be forced to look for an alternative more secure port.

In 2013, another consignment of minerals valued at Rwf11 billion was stolen at the Dar es Salaam port, leading to a row between Rwanda and Tanzania.

READ: Consignment theft exposes rot at Dar port

The continuous theft of Rwandan minerals is partly responsible for the country’s widening trade deficit gap.

The government has targeted to earn over Rwf268.6 billion from mineral exports by 2017.